WEBVTT PSATISFACTORY CONDITION.PDOUG: A LOT MORE UNDOCUMENTEDPIMMIGRANTS ARE GOING TO THEPMEXICAN CONSULATE HERE INPALBUQUERQUE ASKING FOR HELP.PIN FACT THE OFFICE IS GETTINGP, FIVE TIMES AS MANY VISITORS,PAS IT USED TO.PAS ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER SANDRAPRAMIREZ FOUND OUT MANY OF THEMPARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIRPCHILDREN.PSANDER THE MEXICAN CONSUL TELLSP: ME PEOPLE LINE UP OUTSIDE THEPBUILDING BEFORE THE OFFICE ISPEVEN OPEN.PTHE DEMAND IS SO HIGH, THEYPOFFICE WILL SOON BEGIN EXTENDINGPITS HOURS.PNEARLY 700 UNDOCUMENTEDPIMMIGRANTS TAKEN INTO ICEPCUSTODY OVER THE PAST COUPLE OFPWEEKS, AND DEPORTED.P>> THE CONSULATE IS VERY WORRIEDPABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING.PSANDRA EFREN LEYVA SAYS PEOPLEP: COMING INTO MEXICAN CONSULATEPOFFICE ARE TERRIFIED RAIDS COULDPHAPPEN HERE AND THEY WANT TO BEP, READY IF IT DOES.PLEYVA TELLS ME IN NOVEMBER,PABOUT 20 PEOPLE A DAY WEREPAPPLYING FOR OR RENEWING THEIRPPASSPORTS AND GREEN CARDS.PNOW, HE SAYS THERE ARE AT LEASTP100 APPLICATIONS EVERY SINGLEPDAY.P>> HE SAYS HE IS SEEING MOREPPEOPLE LINE KEPT HERE EVERY DAYPFOR GREEN CARD AND PASSPORTPSERVICES.PNOW THEY ARE SEEING MORE PEOPLEPAPPLYING FOR DUAL CITIZENSHIP.PHERE'S HOW DUAL CITIZENSHIPPWORKS.PPARENTS WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED,PAND HAVE CHILDREN WHO WERE BORNPHERE IN THE UNITED STATES, CANPAPPLY FOR THEIR KIDS TO BECOMEPMEXICAN CITIZENS AS WELL.PTHE KIDS DON'T HAVE TO GIVE UPPTHEIR AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP, ANDPIT ENSURES THAT IF THE PARENTSPWERE DEPORTED, THE FAMILYPWOULDN'T BE SEPARATED AND COULDPSTART A LIFE IN MEXICOPLEYVA SAYS PEOPLE ARE ALSOPREACHING OUT THROUGH THEIRPSOCIAL MEDIA PAGES AND ASKINGPWHAT THEY SHOULD DO IF ICE SHOWSPUP AT THEIR DOOR.P>> PEOPLE ARE NERVOUS.PTHERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSIONPABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING.PSANDRA CONFUSION THEY'RE WORKINGP: TO EASE.PLEYVA TELLS ME THE CONSULATE ISPALSO TRYING TO HIRE 10 MOREPIMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS.PAND STARTING NEXT WEEK, THEYPWILL EXTEND THEIR HOURS HERE

More undocumented immigrants are going to the Mexican Consulate in Albuquerque asking for help.

Advertisement

Consul General Efren Leyva said the office is getting five times as many visitors as it used to. Leyva said many people are terrified that immigration raids happening in other states could happen in New Mexico, and want to be prepared if it does happen.

In November, Leyva about 20 people a day were applying for passports and green cards. Now, he said there are at least 100 applications every single day.

Leyva said the Consulate is also seeing more parents applying for dual citizenship for their children.

Here’s how dual citizenship works: Parents who are undocumented, and have children who were born in the United States, can apply for their kids to become Mexican citizens as well.

The kids don’t have to give up their American citizenship, and it ensures that if the parents were deported, the family would not be separated and could start a life in Mexico.

Leyva said people are also reaching out on the Consulate’s social media pages, and asking what they should do if ICE shows up at their door.

“People are nervous, there's a lot of confusion about what is happening,” said Leyva.

Starting next week, the Mexican Consulate in Albuquerque will extend its hours from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. The agency is also working to hire 10 more immigration attorneys.